Grain-cleaning machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH WALLACE AND IVM. MELLON, OF NORTH SEWICKLY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRAIN-CLEANING MACHINE.

Speceaton of Letters Patent No. 23,205, dated March 8, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HUGH IVALLACE and IVM. MELLON, of North Sewickly P.O., in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Grain-Cleaning Machinery; and we herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making apart of this specitication, in which Figure l is a perspective View ofthe machine; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal sec tion; Fig. 3 a top viewof the fan and airpassages, used in the machine; and Figs. Il, 5, 6 and7 representations of parts of the machine, to which more specialreference will be had in the description below.

In all these figures, the same letters of reference are marked on alikeparts.

A is the frame work, forming a large box or casing.

B is a fan of ordinary construction. C,

the casing of the fan.

a is a valve, covering an opening in the casing of the fan, and beingkept down on the same, by means of the string y, to which a weight a isattached. This valve serves for the purpose of allowing a portion of thewind, created by the fan, to escape, whenever its pressure or draftexceeds its proper strength.

D is the wind duct, which is divided into two distinct ducts D', D, by aparti tion (a).

7) is a valve, having its fulcrum at b', b', at the end of the partitiona.

o is a rod, attached to the valve. By means of this rod, which isprovided with a number of holes, the angle piece al, on the outside ofthe frame A, and the pin e, the valve can be secured in any desiredposition or angle. If the saine is in the position, as shown in fulllines in Fig. 3, all the wind, created by the fan, is turned into theduct D, if however its position is such, as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 3; t-he wind will pass partly into the duct D and partly into theduct D.

E is a cast iron cylinder, (shown separately in Fig. 4), the convexsurface of which is corrugated, as represented in Figs. 2 and 4.

F is a concave piece, (shown separately in Fig. 5, which is a view ofthe saine from below). The concave surface of this piece is alsocorrugated, the corrugatious being arranged as seen in Fig. 5. Theconcave F is inade so as to encircle a portion of the top surface of thecylinder; it is hung on the rod f, which forms its fulcrum. The concaveis kept down by its own weight on the cylinder surface; but is preventedfrom being in actual contact with it by the rod g, against which itsarms L, h, rest. The rods f and g pass through, and are supported by,the box Gr, inclosing the upper portion of the cylinder, and the concaveF, and forming a part of the framework of the machine. H is anotherconcave piece, (a top view of which is shown separately in Fig. 6). Itencircles the lower portion of the cylinder and is also provided withcorrugatons, ruiming in zigzag directions, as indicated in Fig. 6. Thisconcave is kept up to the cylinder by means of the lever z' and thelevers j, y', the lever z' together with the link 7c, connecting it.with the concave; and a weight Z hung to the lever end, is representedseparately in Fig. 7. The weight Z is made sutiiciently heavy tocounterbalance not only the weight of the concave, but to keep the sameup on the respective side, with the proper degree of pressure. Thelevers j, j, act in a similar manner on the other side of the concavepiece H; they are connected therewith by the pins m, m, which passthrough openings in the framework A of a sufficient size to allow thelevers to freely play up or down. These levers j, j, are represented inFig. et, as seen from above; and also in Fig. 1, partly in dotted, andpartly in solid lines; they are provided with the springs 0, o, whichbear against the rail A of the frame work. By these levers the concavepiece H is kept up, to the cylinder with a pressure, proportioned to thepower or strain of the springs 0, 0.

J, J, is a frame or curb, resting on the concave piece H, and. inclosingVthe concave piece F. p is a hopper, with a sieve fw, crossing the ductD; g, a chute or conductor, leading from the sieve w, to the top of thecylinder E.

r is a sieve, crossing the duct D, and

s another sieve, communicating with the sieve r. Y

t is a pulley on the shaft of the cylinder E (see Fig. 4) to whichmotion is communicated from thermotive power, by means of 'a belt. 'i

The motion of the fan B is derived` from the cylinder shaft, by means ofthe pulleys fu, and e, connected by a belt.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The grain to be cleaned, isthrown into the hopper p, and in passing over the sieve w is exposed tothe action of the current of air passing up the duct D', whereby anylight substances, mixed with the grain, are

blown out through the mouth of the duct D. From the sieve lw the graindrops into the chute Q, by which it is conducted on the top of thecylinder E, which revolves in a direction, as indicated by arrow in Fig.2; it is thereby drawn under the concave F.

The corrugations of the cylinder and concave produce a thorough rubbing`of the grain, and all foreign substances, capable of being crushed (suchas clods of earth, &c.), that may be mixed with the grain, arepulverized thereby. By arranging the corrugations of concave F in themanner, as represented in Fig. 5; the grain has a tendency of gatheringtoward the middle of the surfaces of the concave and cylinder, inpassing through between them; the curb J will prevent at the same timeany grains from getting oif the surfaces at the sides. When the grainleaves the concave F it immediately enters between the concave H and thecylinder, which operate in a similar rubbing manner on the same; thecorrugations of the shell or concave H however, being arranged in azig-zag manner (as seen in Fig. G), cause the grain to move in acorresponding way in passing through, viz: to move alternately to theright and to the left, until it arrives at the chute w, provided at thepiece H; from this chute it drops on the sieve r, and in passing overthe same, it is exposed to the action of the current of air passing upthe duct D, whereby all dust and other light substances, (separated andformed by recede from the cylinder, in case any stones c or other hardsubstances, should enter between their operating surfaces. Thisarrangement prevents breakage and destruction of those parts, whichotherwise would occur.

By the arrangement of the rod and armsof the concave F, this latterpiece is prevented from getting into contact with the cylinder E attimes when no grain passes through these parts; this prevents uselesswear and friction, which otherwise would take place.

By the arrangement of the valve ZJ, (which has been described above,) agreater or lesser portion of the current of air, produced by the fan,may be Vturned into either the duct D or D, as the nature of the grainto be cleaned may require it.

With some grain, the preliminary fanning, as produced by the current upthe duct D, may appear unnecessary; in this case, the duct D can'beclosed entirely by the valve, and the whole current of air turned intothe du'ct D. y

7e wish to state, that the machine herein described has been practicallytried, and proved to be of superior effectiveness, and to answer itspurpose in the most perfect manner.

l/Ve are aware, that cylinders, with shells or concaves have been usedbefore for the purpose of pulverizing, rubbing or grinding substances,and wish it distinctly understood that we do not claim this. But

Whatwe do claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is:

The arrangement of the valve b, ducts D', and D, and sievcs lw and 1'substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.y

HUGH WALLACE. WVM. MELLON. Witnesses A. lV. CUNNINGHAM, H. BENNETT.

